Gravity-clamp for light-reflecting bowls.



c. E. JONES. GRAVITY CLAMP FOR LIGHT REFLECTING BOWLS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 17. I918- -1,274,89 O. Patented Aug. 6,1918. I

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cHABLEs- ERNEST. JONES, on oHIcAGo, ILLINO.IS.;

GRAVITY-CLAMP FOR LIGHT-REFLECTING 'BowLs. i

Application filed January 17, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLEs ERNEST J ONES, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gravity-Clamps for Light-Reflecting Bowls, of which the following is a specification, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The invention relates to clamps for connecting supporting chains to light reflecting bowls particularly those which are of translucent material and are used in so-called semi -indirect lighting systems where the bowl is suspended below the lamp and pro vides a shade which conceals the lamp from direct view to the occupants of the room. It is frequently desirable to avoid drilling or otherwise providing these bowls with apertures for the accommodation of clamping bolts and the like and while clamps for undrilled bowls have been proposed, both with and without adjusting screws, difficulty has been experienced in providing a clamp which will retain its hold upon the bowl throughout a long period of use, especially when the parts are subjected to any considerable degree of vibration, as from the disturbance produced by outside traific. The invention accordingly has for its object, the provision of a clamp which securely grips the edge of the bowl without the aid of adjusting screws and retains its position on the bowl in spite of vibratory or other disturbing movements.

The improved clamp is of the type in which the tension of the supporting chain is relied upon to retain the clamp in engagement with the bowl. While several of these clamps are required for each bowl and a supporting chain is commonly connected to each clamp, experience has shown that, if not firmly held, one or more of the clamps may have a tendency to creep around the edge of the bowl under the influence of vibration or other disturbing movements until the bowl is entirely unsupported at one side. This tendency of the clamps to creep is greatly exaggerated if there is any inequality Specification of Letters lPatent.

I Patented Aug, Serial No. 212,262.

in the length of the several supporting chains, the direction of movement being to ward the shortest chain and exact equality 1n the length of the supporting chains is diflicult to obtain. I have found that if, instead of using a single projection in engagement with the outside of the bowl, two laterally separated projections are employed, the tendency of the clamp to creep is eliminated and a firmer and more secure grip is obtained.

Further features of the invention will be described in connection with the constructlon shown in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation showing one form of the improved clamp in position on a bowl, a detail of the latter being shown in section,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the clamp and a detail of the bowl, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

The clamp generally designated 5, consists of a single integral casting arranged to grip a light reflecting bowl, as 6, and support the latter from the chain 7, as through the chain hook 12. The hanger 5 is formed with a central portion 8 adapted to arch over the edge of the bowl and terminating at one end in a single projection or horn 9 for contact with the inner surface of the bowl at a substantial distance from its margin. At its other end the clamp terminates in a forked projection comprising laterally extending horns 10 for engagement with'the outside of the bowl, near its margin, as under the bead 11. As the horns 10 are located at opposite sides of the projection 9 they eifectively prevent rocking of the clamp on the edge of the bowl and the creeping movement heretofore described is entirely avoided.

The relative position of the chain hook 12 and contact points 9 and 10, 10, is important in securing a firm holdof the clamp upon the bowl. By forming the intermediate part 8 of the clamp of such length that the contact point 9 is located well below the plane of the chain hook 12 and contact points 10, 10, the parts assume a position on provide two laterally separated projections 10 l the bowl wherein the device is firmly held for contact with the outside of the bowl at by a substantial leverage. opposite sides of the point of contact of the I claim. as myinyention: I I longerarm of the arch,withtheinsideof the A gravity bowlclamp formedin one rigid owl, he -Said projections being the n y piece and comprising an arch adapted to part of the clamp contacting with the out- 5 embrace the edge of the bowl and having side of the bowl, and a chain hook formed arms of unequal-length, the shorter arm of oiithe shorter arm-of the arehp the arch being intultned and rbijfurcated tor CHARLES ERNEST JONES.

cg pjlegs eif tma patent may be pbtamed for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 92 Patents,

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